Top 10 Beast Transformers

#10: Optimus Primal

Also in:

Top 10 Times Optimus Prime Went Beast Mode

The great ape leader of the Maximals, the Beast Era’s Autobot descendants, Optimus Primal has plenty in common with his namesake. Like Optimus Prime, Primal is a brave and noble leader who inspires his crew and knows how to deliver a stirring speech. However, he’s much more down to Earth… outside of the times when he’s flying over it. Also, his borderline religious zealot phase in “Beast Machines” is a little weird. Most of the time, Optimus is willing to hear out ideas from his fellow Maximals and he even has a wry sense of humor. He’s a fantastic character, but the franchise is stacked with a ton of great beast transformers.

#9: Rampage

Also in:

Is Rampage (2018) as Violent As The Video Game? Spoiler Free Review! Mojo @ The Movies

The “Transformers” franchise has a few beast characters named Rampage, but for our purposes, we’ll be discussing the one from “Beast Wars.” Originally named Protoform X, Rampage was a Maximal experiment to create an immortal spark. Unfortunately, they were successful. A deranged, cannibalistic psychopath, Rampage is a bot so vile he makes even the Maximals’ enemies the Predacons, whom he later joins, look nice by comparison. Reveling in violence and the pain of others, Rampage is like if Hannibal Lecter was a transformer. Soft-spoken and creepy, when he isn’t laughing maniacally, Rampage is a chilling villain that we’d hate to run into as a human, much less as a crab/robot/tank.

One of the earliest and most frequently appearing “Transformers” beasts, Grimlock has been a staple of the franchise since the OG ‘80s cartoon. Most often able to transform into a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Grimlock is usually the leader of the Dinobots, a subgroup of Autobots that naturally turn into dinosaurs. Grimlock may not always be the most eloquent wordsmith, frequently speaking in simple sentences and in the third person, but “him Grimlock always beat bad guys.” Ahem, sorry. It’s fun to talk like him. Regardless of the version or his way with words, Grimlock is an iconic Autobot and a powerful warrior.

The Maximals’ resident doomsayer, Rattrap is a consummate pessimist. If the rest of his crew has a plan, he probably thinks they’re all gonna’ die. To be fair, they have a lot of crazy plans. Rattrap, much like the rodent he turns into, may seem small and weak, yet he can be pretty fierce when pushed. An expert at infiltration and demolition, Rattrap may not enjoy taking on Predacons head-on, but he can still do a ton of damage. Rattrap’s sarcastic nature and tendency to hold a grudge make him a source of frustration for his comrades. We wouldn’t have him any other way though! He’s hilarious!

Female transformers are generally in short supply, and Blackarachnia is one of the best. A femme fatale and a brilliant scientist, the various versions of Blackarachnia have fought for Maximals, Predacons, Autobots, and Decepticons alike, with lots of overlap between them. She has been both a villain with a softer side, as well as a hero with an edge. Blackarachnia has also been involved in one of the better transformer romances when she falls for Silverbolt, the paragon of heroism. Blackarachnia weaves a tangled web, but it’s one we love to watch unravel.

A true Renaissance Bot, Rhinox can do it all! Optimus Primal’s right-hand rhino, Rhinox is level-headed and likes to take things slow, except when a crisis is happening. Not only is he the team’s engineer and all-around tech-savvy genius, but Rhinox also has a spiritual side, advising his comrades on everything from the nature of their existence to how to fight while blind. As if that weren’t enough, the big guy is… well, a big guy, so he can also act as the Maximals’ muscle if need be. Those twin-chain guns of doom aren’t too shabby either!

There have been few transformers, or indeed characters in any medium, as unlucky as Waspinator. While agile in the air, Waspinator’s brain, or the robot equivalent, is considerably less speedy. Dim-witted and prone to speaking in the third person, Waspinator is a worker drone that Megatron uses for any task too dangerous for someone important. And it’s a good thing too, since Waspinator has a habit of getting injured, blown up, or completely disassembled, often in over-the-top ways. Even the versions of him that are slightly more competent still end up scrapped. He’s the perpetual punchline to many physical comedy bits, and we love him for it!

Tarantulas is a creepy, crawly mad scientist. But there’s a method to his madness! This arachnid may be the resident science expert for the Predacons, but as many times as he fights against the Maximals, he also works against his fellow Preds, both openly and covertly. Treachery is kind of the M.O. of villainous transformers, but, besides Starscream, Tarantulas may be the king of duplicitous bots. He’s a complete wild card with a sinister voice and a delightfully evil cackle. Plus, his schemes and plots often drive the plot nearly as often as the Predacons’ leader. Speaking of which…

There have been many Megatrons. But only one of them can turn into a T-rex and a dragon! The leader of the Predacons, this Megatron may go full ham, but he earns the right to indulge. Skillfully able to manipulate not only the Maximals, but also his own treacherous underlings, Megatron is charismatic, powerful, and pragmatic. His plans may get foiled time and time again, but he still manages to get some impressive victories under his belt, which include killing Optimus Primal AND Prime, taking over Cybertron, and nearly destroying reality itself! Truly a magnificent villain – yeeeeessss! Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Ravage Who Knew a Cat That Can Turn Into a Cassette Would Be This Cool? Depth Charge A Hero Consumed by Revenge Airazor The Maximals’ Aerial Ace Always Comes in Clutch Inferno An Insane Bruiser Bot Who Thinks He’s an Ant – How Did They Come Up With This Guy?! Cheetor While His Eagerness Often Gets Him in Trouble, We Still Root for This Cat

There are a lot of Dinobots – but only the first one to bear the moniker as his name deserves our top spot. Originally a Predacon, Dinobot joins the Maximals after some disagreements with Megatron. Dinobot’s Predacon values often clash with his comrades, particularly Rattrap, with whom he shares a mutual hate/hate relationship. He’s often a conflicted character and betrays the Maximals on a few occasions. However, Dinobot ultimately proves to be not only an honorable warrior but also one of the greatest transformers in history; valiantly fighting off every Predacon to protect the future at the cost of his life. O Dinobot, what a hero thou hadst been.